NSPCC Kick Bullying into Touch Tag Rugby Programme

Read more from Ben Smiley about our Anti-Bullying programme; sponsored by the NSPCC and supported by Paul Sackey

On Monday 15th June the NSPCC Kick Bullying into Touch Tag Rugby Programme will be rolled out in the London Wasps Community.
Two teams of coaches, Craig Morrison & Jonny Berwick and Lee Salmon & Ben Hardy will be going into 3 schools per day for 5 days delivering key anti-bullying messages through the power of Tag Rugby.

Coaching a maximum of 30 children from 30 primary schools in Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire, the London Wasps Community Team will use Tag Rugby games to help children to identify what bullying actually is, and what impacts there are on people's lives. Each child will also receive information about Childline, and some pointers about what to do if you are bullying, or being bullied. These messages are supported by London Wasps NSPCC Kick Bullying into Touch Programme ambassador Paul Sackey.

Upon accepting his role as programme ambassador, Paul told wasps.co.uk: "I'm really looking forward to supporting the worked performed in schools through the ChildLine partnership and helping to kick bullying into touch. Being a player at London Wasps means you have to learn to work together and play to each others strengths to get a winning result. Everyone is different, just like some of us are better at taking the ball down the wing, others like to be in the scrum – that’s why we all have our different positions.

You don't always agree with your team mates, but you learn to sort out your differences in a respectful manner and make sure no one is bearing grudges as that can ruin your chances. Kids might be surprised to know this, but even some rugby players have been bullied at school. No one should put up with bullying, but you have to deal with it safely, and I hope by going into schools with ChildLine we can all make play our part in tackling bullying."

The schools that are taking part in our initiative are;

Monday 15th June

• Stokenchurch Primary School - Stokenchurch
• Holyport Primary School - Maidenhead
• Frieth Primary School - Henley
• Lowbrook Primary School - Maidenhead
• Curzon CoE Primary School - Amersham
• Courthouse Junior School - Maidenhead

Tuesday 16th June

• West Wycombe Combined School - High Wycombe
• Manor Farm Junior School - Hazlemere
• Castlefield Primary School - High Wycombe
• Lane End Primary School - High Wycombe
• Knowl Hill Primary School - Maidenhead
• Highworth Combined School - High Wycombe

Wednesday 17th June

• The Disraeli School - High Wycombe
• Naphill and Walters Ash Primary School - Princes Risborough
• St Peters Roman Catholic Primary School - Marlow
• St Pauls CoE Combined School - High Wycombe
• Cookham Rise Primary School - Maidenhead
• Dair House Independent School - Farnham Royal

Thursday 18th June

• Juniper Hill School - High Wycombe
• Ley Hill Primary School - Chesham
• High Wycombe CoE School - High Wycombe
• Our Lady's RC Primary School - Amersham
• Great Kingshill CoE Primary School - High Wycombe
• St John's CoE Combined School - Princes Risborough

Friday 19th June

• Thomas Hickman Combined School - Aylesbury
• Little Spring School - Chesham
• Haddenham Junior School - Aylesbury
• Chartridge Junior School - Chesham
• St Mary's CoE School - Aylesbury
• Tilehouse Combined School - Denham

With the NSPCC Kick Bullying into Touch Programme about to start, Community Rugby Coach Ben Smiley told wasps.co.uk: "The idea behind the NSPCC Kick Bullying into Touch programme is fantastic. Many children do not actually realise that what they are doing is bullying and can cause hurtful feelings in others. By using Tag Rugby to help children to identify forms of bullying and the feelings that bullying causes, I really feel that we will be able to have an impact on some of the children who receive this coaching."

For more information about how to get your school involved in the London Wasps Community Coaching programme, please email Ben Smiley or contact the community team on 01494 531122.